College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter

Volume 3, Number 2, February 2015

Engineering and Biology: A Strategy for Bacteria

Bacteria have bad reputations. They're known to cause infections, illnesses, and hospitalizations. Professor Vanni Bucci, a UMass Dartmouth Biology professor, is especially interested in a particular bacterium called Clostridium difficile.

Typically, Clostridium difficile live quietly in the intestines. But when a patient receives antibiotics, the bacterium can grow out of control and cause infectious diarrhea. "When patients receive antibiotics, they can get infected with C. diff," Bucci said. "And they usually get treated with antibiotics, which can lead to a reoccurrence or a new infection."

Professor Bucci's research, which was recently published in Nature, focuses on more natural ways to restore balance in the intestines and decrease the risk of infections. In particular, he studies ways to use certain bacteria as a possible cure for C. diff. To do his research, Bucci must connect two disciplines - Engineering and Biology. He uses a big data approach and analyzes therapy patterns and outcomes. And he uses that data to develop a math model that helps predict certain bacteria's effects on C. diff.

As a result of his innovative research, Bucci was awarded a $462,694 R15 grant from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, and he hopes to broaden his research to other bacteria. "This is a way to solve biology problems with engineering solutions," Bucci said. "It brings the field of biomedicine research to the university."

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Jesse Waidler: A Rare Student

It's no secret that UMass Dartmouth students are special. But some of them, like senior Jesse Waidler, are really special. Waidler, a double major concentrating in French and History, is a rare student. Not only is he a high-achieving student, but he is also an E5 sergeant in the United States Army. And it's challenging to balance everything, especially when he is constantly pulled away for duty. "It can be tiring at times," Waidler says. "But as long as you're physically able, you can make anything happen."

At seventeen, Waidler knew he could make his goal of working in Washington D.C. a reality. He made a plan, and he's been slowly making progress. When he was nineteen, he attended the Defense Language

Institute and learned French. Now at 24, he is a French Linguist for the Department of Defense. He helps to translate documents and aid with interpretations. Between the years of 2012-2013, the U.S. Army deployed Waidler to Kosovo to work on an ongoing NATO mission.

After his deployment, Waidler realized he needed to advance his career, so he transferred to UMass Dartmouth in 2013. Initially, he was only a History major, and he added the French major. The stellar student takes six classes a semester in an attempt to accelerate his studies. "My History classes have opened up my mind," Waidler said. "They've allowed me to appreciate where I go."

Even with all his success, Waidler remains humble. He believes that anyone can make a dream happen; it just takes a lot of work and dedication. "You have to remember that you're working toward your goal," he said. "And if you come up short, you will never be satisfied."

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Introducing the Class of 2025

Recently, the College of Arts and Sciences welcomed a large group of young, promising students to campus. The students, from Fairhaven's LeRoy L. Wood Elementary School, are still too young to apply for the fall semester. But according to their principal, Amy Hartley-Matteson, it's important to show them the possibilities. "As educators, we must put our children's feet where we want them to go," she said. "I think it would be amazing for the student body to have a chance to visit the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth."

So on February 11th, a cold and blustery day, campus administrators ushered twelve elementary school buses into the visitor parking lot. And while Pharrell Williams' "Happy" played over the speaker, more than 600 eager students, teachers, and parents entered the main auditorium to celebrate their very own "Pay it Forward" campaign with song, dance, and comedy.

The "Pay it Forward" campaign is the Fairhaven school's way of showing appreciation for their brand-new school. Completed in 2013, the 24 million dollar educational facility features various art amenities, spaces designed for therapies, and a brand-new playground. "After spending our first year in our brand new, amazing school, we feel indebted to our community for this gift," Hartley-Matteson said. "Our school will spend the entire year paying it forward locally and globally, in big and small ways.

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